SB 66-MEMBERS LEG COUNCIL; LEG BUDGET & AUDIT  3:51:46 PM CHAIR SHOWER announced the consideration of SENATE BILL NO. 66 "An Act relating to the membership of the legislative council; and relating to the membership of the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee." CHAIR SHOWER informed the committee he and the sponsor agreed that the best way forward would be to introduce a committee substitute (CS) that makes minor changes in Sections 1 and 2 and eliminates Section 3. 3:53:23 PM SENATOR TOM BEGICH, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of SB 66, presented the legislation paraphrasing the following sponsor statement [Original punctuation provided.]: As outlined by state statute, the Alaska Legislative Council has the essential role of conducting the legislature's business when the legislature is not in session, while the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee plays a pivotal role in managing state finances and expenditures. It is clear the legislative intent of committee member representation on these decisive standing committees is meant to be equitable and fair. Alaska State Statute establishes membership on Legislative Council and Legislative Budget and Audit to include "at least one member from each of the two major political parties of each house;" however, the Alaska legislature has a long history of coalition caucuses and nonpartisan legislators. The unfortunate consequence is that organized legislative minority representation has been long been denied from these critical standing committees. Caucuses form around a vision they have for Alaska. The minority caucuses should not have their vision for Alaska unrepresented on these committees. Senate Bill 66 seeks to clarity the long-standing intent of fair representation on these powerful standing committees by requiring at least one member of the minority party of each house. By this change, we can ensure that all of Alaska is represented fairly on Legislative Council and Legislative Budget and Audit. SENATOR BEGICH highlighted that the passage of Ballot Measure 2 made the use of party affiliation optional. The consequence is that there will be instances where party affiliation is not associated with every member of the body. He said that underscores the importance of ensuring that these committees represent both the minority and majority. He clarified that SB 66 does not seek to expand the role of the minority on either committee as provided by the Uniform Rules. Rather, it seeks fair representation. 3:57:27 PM MERCEDES COLBERT, Staff, Senator Tom Begich, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, presented the sectional analysis for SB 66 on behalf of the sponsor. Section 1. Amends AS 24.20.020 to ensure fair representation from the minority caucus of the legislative house on the legislative council. Section 2. Amends AS 24.20.161 by aligning terminology and establishing fair representation from the minority caucus of the legislative house on the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee. Section 3. Inserts a new definition section to AS 24.20, AS 24.20.700 which clarifies that a minority is comprised of at least 25 percent of the legislative house membership, is organized, and has elected a leader. CHAIR SHOWER asked if there were questions. 3:59:25 PM SENATOR REINBOLD described SB 66 as a great idea and great bill. She asked for the effective date and the number of times the minority did not have representation on these committees. MS. COLBERT replied the bill becomes effective in the 33rd legislature. Responding to the second question, she reported that from the 22nd legislature through the 32nd legislature the House of Representatives consistently included minority representation on the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee. During that same time, the Senate included minority caucus representation just three times. For Legislative Council, the House included minority caucus representation in 10 of the last 11 legislatures, whereas the Senate included minority caucus representation just 5 of the last 11 legislatures. CHAIR SHOWER solicited a motion to adopt the proposed committee substitute (CS). 4:02:35 PM SENATOR REINBOLD moved to adopt the work draft CS for SB 66(STA), work order 32-LS0410\B, as the working document. CHAIR SHOWER objected for discussion purposes. 4:03:15 PM MS. COLBERT explained the differences between version A and version B for SB 66. Section 1 clarifies that the minority has representation on Legislative Council. The committee is composed of the Senate president, the Senate minority leader or designee, and five other senators and the speaker of the House of Representatives, the House minority leader or designee and five other representatives. The total membership of 14 remains the same. Section 2 clarifies that the minority has representation on the Legislative Budget and Audit Committee. The committee is comprised of the chairs of the senate and house finance committees, one member from each the senate and house finance committees, the house minority leader or designee and the senate minority leader or designee, and two members appointed from each body by the respective presiding officer. The total membership of 12 remains the same. Section 3 is removed because it would have had the unintended consequence of codifying existing Uniform Rules. 4:05:50 PM SENATOR BEGICH highlighted that the intent was that the effective date would be set for the next legislature, but that was missing from the bill. He requested the committee amend the bill to clarify that it would take effect after the first day of the 33rd legislature. 4:07:22 PM CHAIR SHOWER held SB 66 in committee for future consideration.